Check-endorsing and sorting machine



Dec, 17, 1946. M. L. NELSON ETAL. 2,412,830

CHECK-ENDORSING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l ea. 17, 1946. M. L. NELSON ET AL CHECK-ENDORSING AND SORT ING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a m m H 06 y mm w N o NF Z MW J 6 7 ,C... w

Dec. 17, 194$. NELSON ET A 2,412,83@

CHECK-ENDORSING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1941 4 Shgets-Sheet 3 WAWLQLLIQ; I M

Dec. 1?, 1946. M. L. NELSON ET AL CHECK-ENDORSING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1941 INVENTORS Marta/7, .L Neson Patented Dec. 17, 1946 CHECK-ENDORSING AND SORTING MACHINE Martin L. Nelson, Park Ridge, and Alfred M.

Roberts, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The American Perforator Company,

poration of Illinois Chicago, 111., a cor- Application' September 10, 1941, Serial No. 410,298

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a check-endorsing and sorting machine, and the general object of the invention is to produce a new and improved machine of this character.

A special object of the invention is to produce a simple and highly eficient check-sorting apparatus which is Well adapted for incorporation in a check-endorsing machine of standard construction.

A further object of the invention is the production of a check-endorsing and sorting machine in which the sorting apparatus is automatically controlled from another machine used in conjunction therewith, such as an adding machine.

The invention and the various features therei of, including those mentioned in the foregoing, will be described fully hereinafter, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a check-endorsing and sorting machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale, taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial side View of the machine, with one side wall partly broken away to expose the sorting apparatus;

Fig. l is a top view of the selecting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-4, Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partial rear view of an adding machine, showing the assembly of contact springs for controlling the selecting mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic circuit drawing showing essential parts of the sorting apparatus and the circuit connections thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic circuit drawing showing a modified form of the invention.

The general appearance of the complete machine can be seen from Fig. 1. As shown in this view, the machine comprises an upper portion I l, which includes the check-endorsing mechanism, and a lower base portion It, where the check-sorting apparatus is located. The checkendorsing part of the machine is of less depth than the lower portion, whereby a part of th. latter is exposed in the form of a shelf l2. This shelf is a convenient place to put one or more stacks of checks preparatory to feeding them through the machine. The checks are fed intt the machine at the opening l3 on top and after being endorsed and sorted are delivered to one of the compartments A, B, or C, as the case may be. i

The lower portion of the machine includes a base !4, Fig. 2, which forms part of a frame comprising also four horizontal angle iron pieces such as 15, It, and ll, which are secured together in rectangular formation, and four vertical angle iron pieces such as It and 19, disposed one at each of the four corners. The vertical pieces such as I8 and it serve to support the frame pieces l5, l6, etc. in spaced relation to the base 54. The frame also includes the two flat metal strips 2!] and 2| which extend between the angle iron piece l6 and the opposite angle iron piece.

The various parts of the check-endorsing mechanism are supported on a separate frame which in turn is supported on the lower frame just described. The upper frame comprises two flanged plates, one of which is shown at 22, and a transverse member 23 which extends between the two plates near the upper ends thereof. The lower flanged edge of plate 22 rests on and is secured to the angle iron piece it of the lower frame. The other flanged plate rests on and is secured to the angle iron piece which is on the opposite side of the lower frame from angle iron piece I6. These parts, of course, do not all appear in the sectional view, Fig. 2, but it is thought that the construction will be readily understood.

The two frames, secured together as described, are enclosed in a suitable casing, as indicated. This casing may be madeof sheet metal and will require no detailed explanation. It may be mentioned, however, that the front of the upper part of the machine is closed by metal sheet 30, the lower edge of which is soldered to a strip 3! which rests on and is secured in suitable manner to the transverse member 20 of the lower frame. The sheet 30 rests against the front edges of the two flanged frame plates such as 22 for some distance upward from its lower edge and then extends forwardly as indicated at 32, so that the upper part of the sheet is ofiset or spaced away from the edges of the flanged frame plates. The upper portion of the sheet 30 is supported on two flat metal pieces such as 33 which are secured to the frame plates such as 22 on the outside thereof. At the top the sheet 30 is bent at right angles on both sides and extends horizontally to the rear, as indicated at 34. The central portion of sheet 30 is bent at a more acute angle, as indicated at 35, and forms one side of a kind of tapered opening 3 for the reception of checks. The ends of the opening are closed by sheet metal pieces such as 35.

The sheet 30 cooperates with a sheet 31 to form a vertical channel or chute 40 down which the checks pass after leaving the printing cylinder of the endorsing mechanism. The sheet 3? may be soldered along its lower edge to a strip 38 which rests on and is secured to the transverse frame member 2!. At the top the sheet tl is secured to two studs such as 39 which project from the inner faces of the frame plates such as 22.

The check-endorsing machine illustrated herein is a machine manufactured by the American Perforator Co., Chicago, lllinoisjan'd is of well known construction. There are several similar machines on the market. The check-endorsing mechanism accordingly will not be described in detail and as a matter of fact many of the details are not shown in the drawings. Fig. 2 des,'h0W ever, show enough of the machine so'that its general operation can be explained and understood.

The printing cylinder assembly is indicated at 24 and is rotatably mounted on the shaft 23. Cooperating with the printing cylinder there is a roller 4! which is mounted on a shaft 42. This shaft has bearings supported on the frame plates such as 22, or rather on the metal pieces such as 33 which are secured thereto. The shaft 23 is also provided with bearings on the frame plates 22, and is driven from the motor 29 by means of a worm wheel 2'? mounted on the motor shaft 22' and a gear wheel 26 mounted on shaft 23. The motor 29 is suitably mounted on the frame plate 22.

The printing cylinder assembly is normally locked against rotation with the shaft 23 by means of the locking lever 43 which is pivoted at 55. Release of the printing cylinder is effected by means of a solenoid 45, the core M of which is arranged to actuate the lever 43. There is a lever 46, pivoted at 41, at one end of the printing cylinder assembly and a similar lever at the other end. These levers are semi-circular in shape and are joined together at the rear of the printing cylinder, where a rearwardly extending arm 43 is provided. When a check is inserted in the opening 4 wise of the machine. throat at the top is of the same size as the lower end of the chute 40, while the opening at the lower end is considerably larger. There is a curved baffle plate on the inside, which is the end plates 53 and 54. a

The sorting device SD is supported on trunnions which permit its adjustment to different positions. One of these trunnions is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and bears the reference numeral 55. It is secured to the end wall 53 of the sorting device and projects outwardly through V a bearing in the cross member 51. The other trunnionis indicated at 58 in Fig. 3. It is sel3 it engages the ends of the levers such as 46, I

which are tiltedslightly on their pivots to raise the end of the arm 48 and actuate the contact spring 49. This contact spring closes the circuit of the solenoid 45 The lever 43 not only unlocks the printing cylinder but releases a ratchet mechanism by means of which the printing cylinder is driven from the shaft 23. The printing cylinder drives the roller 4| and the cylinder and roller cooperate to feed the check downward and deliver it to the vertical chute 49. In this operation the endorsement is printed on the back of the check by the printing cylinder. As soon as the check has passed through, the levers such, as 46 restore, opening the circuit of the solenoid. The printing cylinder, however, makesv one complete rotation before it becomes locked by the lever 43, which disengages the ratchet drive mechanism at the same time.

The foregoing brief description supplies as much information about the construction and operation of'the check-endorsing mechanism as will be required for an understanding of the invention.

Attention may now be directed to the sorting apparatus. This apparatus includes a sorting device proper which can be seen clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, where it is indicated generally by the reference letters SD. It comprises two curved side walls 5| and 52 and two end walls 53 and 55, which may be secured to the side walls 5 and 52 by soldering or in, any suitable'manner. These parts form a tapered chute which extends cross cured to the end wall 55 of the sorting device and has a bearing in the cross member 59.

Beneath the sorting device SD are three compartments, A, B, and C, which are formed by means of the partitions 5t and 61. These compartments are open at the top to receive checks from the sorting device and also may be open at the left hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the stacks of checks can be easily and 3, and the details of its construction are shown in Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive. The various parts are mounted on a frame which comprises a base lfi of heavy sheet metal, of U-shaped cross-section, and the two side plates H and I2. These side plates are secured to the base 16 at the bottom and are maintained in rigid spaced relation at the top by means of two hexagonal cross members 13 and M, to which the side plates are secured by means of screws. The frame construction will be clear from the drawings.

The frame of the selectin mechanism is supported on the cross member 2| and the angle iron piece I! of the lower frame, to which parts it is secured by means of screws i5 and 16, as shown in Fig; 4.

The shaft Ti extends between the side plates i i and. E2 and is provided with bearings 18 and it which are secured in openings in the side plates. As can be seen from Fig. '7, the shaft T! is of reduced diameter for some distance inside the frame from bearing T3 and this portion of the shaft carries the locking disk and the pinion 8t. These parts may be forced on to the shaft against the shoulder andare held rigidly on, the shaft by the press fit.

The disk 83 is rotatable on the shaft H- and is provided with a hub which carries the sprocket wheel t l. Thesprocket wheel and the disk 85 preferably have a press fit on the hub of the disk 83 so that these three parts are firmly secured together.

Ifhe disk 86 is loose on the shaft I? three studs such as 88 which enter corresponding openings in the disk 81. The latter is threaded on shaft 77 and is prevented from turning on the shaft by a lock nut 5t. 89- surrounds each stud.- such as 88 and these springs are compressed between the disk 81' and the disk 86'. The springs accordingly tend to force the disk 86 to the right as the arrangement is seen in Fig. 7, which compresses the sprocket wheel-unit 83 85 between the felt washers 9i and 92.

The complete arrangement just described constitutes a friction clutch by means of which the The narrow opening or.

secured to 1 and carries A spring such as sprocket wheel 8 3 drives the shaft 'I'I andpini'on '81.

'89, thus increasing the pressure on the clutch elements and increasing the frictional resistance to rotation of the sprocket wheel unit independent of the shaft. ,When the proper adjustment is secured the lock nut 50 is tightened up again.

The selecting mechanism includes a second shaft 93 which is provided with bearings 94 and 95 in the side plates II and 72 of the frame. The

.shaft 93 is driven from the shaftl'i by means f the pinion BI and the gearwheel 95, the latter being fixed on shaft 93. The gear ratio is one to four. A crank [56 is mounted on shaft 93 at one end thereof.

": The sprocket wheel unit 83--85 of the selecting tinuous driving torque to the shaft IT by means of the friction clutch, but rotation of shaft TI is normally prevented by a stop, I62, Fig. 5, which is adapted to engage the projection 82 on the periphery of disk 85. This arrangement maintains the shaft ll normally locked against rotation.

The shaft TI is released by means of the magnet I84. The stop IE2 is mounted on the armature H33 of the magnet so that when the magnet is energized the attraction of armature E53 is effective to withdrawthe stop m2 from in front of the projection 82 and thus release the shaft Tl for rotation. When the magnet N14 is deenergized, the armature i533 and stop I62 are restored by means of a spring i 55, whereby the stop I02 is placed in the proper position to again engage the projection 32 as soon as the shaft ll and disk 86 have completed one full rotation.

The selecting mechanism SM is connected tothe sorting device SD by a flat metallic bar 65,

Fig. 3. At its upper end the bar 65 is connected to the end of crank 66 by a, pivot 66 and at its lower end the bar is connected to the arm 62 by means of a pivot 67. The arm 62 is rigidly secured to the trunnion 58 close to its junction with the sorting device. The pivot 67 is preferably adjustable along a slot in the arm 62. For this purpose a shoulder screw may be employed, having a shank portion which lies in the opening in the end of bar 65 and a smaller threaded portion which passes through the slot in the arm 62 and is clamped to the arm in the desired position by means of a nut.

As the parts are shown in Fig. 3, the opening at the upper end or the sorting device is in exact the chute 40. This adjustment is secured by angular adjustment of the arm 62 on the trunnion 58. To permit of such adjustment the arm 62 is preferably secured to the trunnion by means of set screws. The foregoing assumes, of course, that shaft I? is in locked position, as shown in Fig. 5. When the shaft I? is momentarily released by magnet H14 it makes one complete rotation and" rotates shaft 93. ninety degrees in a 1 alignment with the opening at the lower end of clockwise direction, as seenin Fig. 3. This '0poration rotates the sorting device SD on its trunnions in a clockwise direction by means of crank 56, connecting bar 65, and arm 62 until the sorting device reaches the position shown in dot-dash lines. In this position the opening at the upper end of the sorting device lies to the right of the chute 40, while the lower edge of the curved wall 5| is just above the partition 65. When the shaft 11 is released again it makes another rotation and shaft 93 is rotated. ninety degrees further. This operation-restores the sorting device to the position in which it appears in Fig. 3. If the shaft TI is released again, it makes a third rotation, thereby rotating shaft 93 an additional ninety degrees, and rotating the sorting device in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in dotted lines. In this position the opening at the upper end of the sorting device has moved to the left of the chute 4!], while the lower edge of the curved wall 52 has moved to a position in which it is just above the partition 6 I. One more operation caused by again releasing the shaft TI restores the sorting deviceto its central position. It will be clear that the correct amount of rotation of the sorting device to cause it to reach its dotted line and dot-dash line positions is secured by proper adjustment of the pivot 61 on the arm 62.

In assuming its different positions as described in the foregoing, the sorting device controls two groups of contact springs IIilI I5 and II60I65, which are mounted on the bracket H6, Fig. 3. To this end the trunnion 58 is provided with an arm 63, having a stud 64 at the end, on which there is mounted a small roller of insulating material. The roller lies between the two working contact springs III and H4. When the sorting device is in its central position the working contact springs III and H4 engage contact springs -I I2 and IE3, respectively. When the sorting deline position, the arm 63 and the roller move the contact spring H6 out of engagement with contact spring H3 and into engagement with contact spring I I5. These contact springs take part in the control of the selecting mechanism, as will be described presently.

The second group of contact springs is located immediately behind the first group and hence does not appear in Fig. 3. Both groups of contact springs are, however, shown in the circuit drawing, Fig. 10. From what has been said, it will be understood that the roller on the end of arm 63 stands between the working contact springs I6I and I62 of the second group and controls these springs the same as it controls springs III and I I 4 of the first group. The contact springs of the second group control the circuits of the counters I55, I56, and I51.

The counters are of known construction and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10. They are preferably mounted in a casing I'II as shown in Fig. 2, which may be secured to the angle iron piece I6 of the frame. The number wheels of the counters are visible through the opening I12, Fig. 1.

The selecting mechanism SM is controlled from an adding machine which has been modified by the addition of three sets of contacts and means for actuating them, respectively, in three different positions of the carriage of the machine.

Any suitable type of adding machine may be used. Figs. 8 and 9 show the contact sets and actuating means therefor as incorporated in an Allen Wales duplex adding machine.

The reference character I indicates a metal plate which is attached to the adding machine at the rear. The upper edge of the plate lies in a groove which extends along the lower side of the stop bar I 32 while the lower end of the plate is secured to the casing of the machine by means of two screws HI and 522. The plate I20 carries a small spacer plate I23 on which the three sets of contact springs I24-I25, I26i2'I, and I28- i29 are mounted in known manner.

The contacts are controlled by an arm I35 which is clamped to the carriage shift bar of the adding machine. The drawings only show a few of the essential parts of the machine. Of these parts, I36 is one of the end frame members of the carriage, I3? is a transverse frame member of the carriage, and I39 is the carriage shift lever for operating the carriage shift bar I3 i. The bar I3I is rotatable in bearings in the end frame plates of the carriage, and there is a spring (not shown) attached to the shift lever I which tends to rotate the shift bar I3I in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 9. Thus the stop arm I34 is normally maintained in the slot of one of the adjustable stops such as M3. By depressing the shift lever I383 the shift bar Isl is rotated far enough to disengage the stop arm I34 from the stop with which it may be associated at the time, thereby permitting the carriage to be shifted to the right or left, as the case may be. When the shift lever is released, the stop arm automatically enters the first slot it encounters during shifting of the carriage and thus locks the carriage against further movement. This is a well known arrangement and will require no further explanation.

As shown in the drawings, the machine is set up for five columns of printing, and the carriage is in fourth position, with the stop arm I34 in the slot of stop I 33. The arm I is inactive in this position. If th carriage shift lever I30 is depressed now, the carriage may be shifted to first position. While the shift is taking place the shift lever is held depressed so that the stop arm i3 5 clears the stops, with the result that the arm I35also clears the contact springs which it passes. Fig. 9 shows the arm I35 in the angular position it occupies when the shift lever is in a depressed position. first position, the shift lever may be released, whereupon the stop arm ltd enters the slot in stop M3 and locks the carriage. At the same time the arm E35 engages the contact spring I24 and presses it into engagement with spring I25.

The other two sets of contacts are closed in positions two and three of the carriage. In the second position the stop arm E34 rests in the slot in stop ass, and the arm I35 presses contact spring E28 into engagement with contact spring I2'i; while in the third position the stop arm I34 rests in the slot in stop 542 and the arm I35 presses contact spring E28 into engagement with contact spring I29.

The circuit connections may now be described briefly with reference to Fig. 10. The conductors I56 and I5! are conductors of a plug-ended cord or other suitable arrangement whereby access may be had to a source of commercial alternating current at a convenient outlet. The cord enters the casing of the endorsing and sorting machine at a bushed opening I52 at the rear, see

The carriage having been shifted to the checks.

Fig. 2, and terminates at the switch I53. When the switch is closed, current is supplied to the motor 29 and also to the primary winding of a step-down transformer 154. The secondary winding of the transformer supplies current to the magnet HM of the selecting mechanism and also to the counter operating magnets I55, I56, and I51.

For the purpose of operating the counter, a cam I58 is provided, also a pair of contact springs I59. These parts do not appear in Fig. 2, as they are obscured by other parts, but it may be stated that the cam is part of the printing cylinder assembly and rotates with it. The contacts I59'are closed, therefore, once for each rotation of the printing cylinder.

The wiring of the equipment follows standard practice and need not be described. It may be mentioned, however, that since the contact springs I24-I29 are located at the adding machine, a four-conductor cable is required to connect the check-endorsing and sorting machine with the adding machine. This cable may leave the endorsing and sorting machine at a bushed opening indicated at I56 in Fig.2.

The machine and various parts thereof having been described, a brief explanation of the operation may now be given. The invention is intended for use in the clearing and proving department of a bank, where each clerk engaged in handling deposits is provided with a checkendorsing and sorting machine constructed in accordance with the invention and an adding machine modified as herein described.

The advantages secured by use of the invention reside not only in the time and work saved, but in the fact that it permits the employment of a system in the handling of deposits which guards against the occurrence of errors. The system used may vary considerably, depending on the size of the bank and other factors, and accordingly this phase of the matter will not be gone into extensively. It will suffice for an understanding of the invention to mention the essential features of a system, which are directly involved in or related to the operation of the machines. A simple system will be assumed, moreover, such as might be used in a small bank having only one clearing clerk.

The deposits are collected periodically from the receiving tellers cages and may be delivered to the clearing and proving department by messenger. Each deposit comprises a deposit slip and one or more checks. The cash, if any, does not accompany the deposit slips, but the amounts entered therein are verified by the tellers.

When the clearing clerk receives a batch of deposits, she first sorts them by hand, placing in one stack all clearing house checks, in a second stack all miscellaneous checks, including transit checks or checks on banks in other cities, and in a third stack all checks on us, or checks on the local bank. The deposit slips are placed in a fourth stack.

The clearing clerk then takes the first stack of checks, the clearing house checks, and arranges them convenient to the adding machine and the check-endorsing and sorting machine, which are located side by side. The stack of checks may be placed, for example, on the shelf i2 of the endorsing and sorting machine. The carriage of the adding machine is then shifted to the first column and the clerk proceeds to enter As each check is entered it is re- 9. moved from the stack andis fed into the endorsing and sorting machine.

It is understood, of course, that prior to the beginning of operations as described above the adding machine and endorsing and sorting machine are both connected to a source of current. In the endorsing machine the switch IE3 is closed.

The motor 29 is therefore running and the shaft- 23 is being continuously rotated, driving the cuit :for the magnet IE4 of the selecting mechanism SM which may be traced from terminal I'M by way of conductor I'IB, contact springs I25 and I24, conductor I78, contact springs H2 and III, conductor I19, and winding of magnet I94 to terminal I15. Since the secondary winding of the transformer I54 is connected to terminals I14 and I75, current is supplied to the above traced circuit and the magnet IE4 is energized, thereby releasing the shaft TI of the selecting mech anism in the manner previously explained. The shaft I1 accordingly rotates with the sprocket wheel 8% and drives the shaft 93 by means of pinion SI and gear 96. Shaft 93 rotates in a clockwise direction and rotates the sorting device SD in a clockwise direction by means of the crank 65, connecting bar 65, and arm 62.

As soon as the sorting device begins to rotate, or very shortly thereafter, the roller on the end of arm 63 separates the contact spring I II from the contact spring IIZ, thereby breaking the circuit of magnet I04. The magnet is accordingly deenergized and the stop I02 is restored in preparation for stopping the shaft 71 at the end of one complete rotation. When the rotation is completed, the projection 82 engages the ing device, separating said contact spring I5I from contact spring Hi2 and moving it intoengagement with contact spring I58. This operation prepares a circuit for the counter operating magnet I55.

When the first check is fed into the endorsing and sorting machine at opening I3, the levers 46 are actuated by the check and initiate the rotation of the printing cylinder 2a in the manner previously explained. The cylinder accordingly makes one complete rotation, during which theendorsement is printed on the check. As the check leaves th printing cylinder it passes into the vertical chute 68, through which it descends by gravity. Upon leaving the chute the check inpinges on the curved side wall 5I of the sorting device SD which diverts it to the left and delivers it to compartment A.

, During the rotation of the printing cylinder the cam I53 closes contact springs 55B momentarily,

thus completing a circuit for the counter operating magnet I which extends from terminal I'M by way of conductor I76, conductor I80, winding of magnet 55, conductor I85, contact springs IE3 and IBI, contact springs 263 and i6 5, conductor I82, contact springs I59, and conductor I'll" to terminal H5. The transformer ia'i supplies current to this circuit and magnet i 55 is accordingly energized momentarily, advancing the counter in known manner toregister one check as having been delivered to compartment A.

The clerk continues to enter the clearing house checks on the adding machine until all the checks in this category have been entered, each check being fed into the endorsing. and sorting machine as soon as entered. The machine operates as described, printing the endorsement on each check and delivering it to compartment A at the bottom of the machine.

Having finished with the clearing house checks, the clerk prints the total, which clears out the upper counter on the adding machine, leaving the total registered on the lower counter.

The clerk now takes the second stack of checks,

{ being the miscellaneous checks, shifts the adding machine carriage to the second column, and proceeds to enter the checks and feed them one by one into the endorsing and sorting machine, the same as was done With the clearing house checks.

When the carriage is shifted from the first column to the second column, the contact springs E24 and I25 are separated and the contact springs I26 and i2? are closed. Accordingly, a new circuit is completed for magnet IM of the selecting mechanism, extending from terminal I'M by way of conductor I76, contact springs I2? and i26, conductor E83, contact springs Mil and ill, conductor I19, and winding of magnet Iilt to terminal I I5. Upon energizing, magnet let releases the shaft 'l'i, whereupon the shaft TI and shaft 93 start to rotate in the manner previously described, with the result that the sorting device SD is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction toward its central position.

Near the beginning of the return movement of the sorting device SD the arm 83 permits contact spring I I I to break away from contact spring lit, thus opening the circuit of magnet I64. Shaft 11 makes one complete rotation, however, before it becomes locked again, and shaft EI3 is retated ninety degrees, whereby the sorting device SD is brought exactly to its central position, as shown in the drawings. In this position of the sorting device, the contact spring Iii again engages contact spring i i 2, while contact spring It! again engages contact spring I62.

- When the clerk feeds the miscellaneous checks into the machine, the checks are endorsed as in the previous case, but now, due to the change in the position of the sorting device, the checks pass between the walls of the sorting device upon leaving the chute at and are deposited in compartment 3. Upon entering the sorting device the checks impinge on the curved bafile 55, which diverts them slightly to the left and insures that all the checks will fall into the compartment 33 with the same side up.

During each rotation of the printing cylinder the cam I58 closes thecontact springs 559 as before, thus completing a circuit for the counter operating magnet I56. This circuit extends from terminal Ii by way of conductor H5, conductor I80, windingof magnet I56, contact springs I6! and IE2, contact springs I63 and IE4, conductor I82, contact springs I59, and conductor IT? to 11 terminal H5. The counter is accordingly advanced a number of times to register the checks deposited in compartment B.

The clerk now prints the total of the miscellaneous checks on the adding machine, which opcrates in known manner, clearing out the upper counter and accumulating the total in the lower counter.

The clerk now takes the third stack of checks, shifts the carriage of the adding machine to the third column, and proceeds to enter the checks and feed them one at a time into the: endorsing and sorting machine, the same as was done with the two preceding stacks.

When the carriage is shifted from the second column to the third column, the contact springs I26 and 121 are separated and the contact springs I28 and iii are closed. Upon the closure of contact springs I28 and I29, a circuit is again completed for magnet H14, extending from terminal a PM by way of conductor H6, contact springs F58 and H28, conductor [84, contact springs H3 and H4, conductor H9, and winding of magnet in to terminal 515. Upon energizing, magnet ltl i releases the shaft 11. start to rotate, and the latter shaft starts to rotate the sorting device SD in a counter-clockwise direction toward its dotted line position as indicated in Fig. 3,

The foregoing movement of the sorting device tation during which the shaft 93 rotates ninety degrees and moves the sorting device exactly to its dotted line position.

The described movement of the sorting device is accompanied by the movement of arm 83, which brings contact spring I it into engagement with contact spring H5, thus preparing a circuit for moving the sorting device out of its dotted line position. Arm 63 also brings contact spring It l into engagement with contact spring 1%, which prepares a circuit for counter operating magnet As the checks of the third stack are fed into the endorsing machine they are endorsed in the usual manner, but in this case, due to the change in the position of the sorting device, the checks impinge on the curved wall 52 thereof upon leaving the chute it and are diverted to the right and deposited in compartment C.

The counter i? is operated by cam [58 in the manner described in the case of the other counters, the circuit being obvious in view of the operating circuits previously traced. Thus the counter is advanced a number of times to re ister the checks deposited in compartment C.

'The clerk now shifts the carriage of the adding machine to the fourth column and enters the cash items from the deposit slips. When the carriage is shifted out of the third column position the contact springs I28 and I29 are separated. This operation has no effect on the selecting mechanism, which remains in its last attained position. Having entered the cash items, the clerk takes the total as in the preceding cases.

The carriage of the adding machine is now shifted to the fifth column and the clerk enters the credit totals from the deposit slips. These items are the totals of checks and cash as added up by the depositors, and are entered with the minus bar, which means that they are subtracted from the entries previously made. The clerk Shafts El and 93 accordingly i then takes the total, which clears out the upper counter as in previous cases.

The clerk now prints the grand total, which clears out the machine. If the grand total is zero, which it should be, it proves the entered batch of deposits and the clerk knows that her entries and those on the deposit slips are correcto If the grand total does not equal zero", it indicates that an error has been made, either by the: clerk or by a depositor, and the amount of the error and its sign will usually afford a clue as to its location. Thus any error indicated may be corrected quickly.

It will be seen that, although all the checks have gone through the endorsing machine, they have been delivered to three different compartments in accordance with their original classification. The checks in compartment A are removed and are tied up with a copy of the first column entries for forwarding to the clearing house bank. The checks from compartment C go to the bookkeeping department of the bank alongv with. the deposit slips. The checks from compartment B are put aside for forwarding to the out-of-town banks for collection as time permits, o at the end of the day. These and other details of the clerks duties have no particular relevancy in so far as the explanation of the operation of the invention is concerned and will not be further discussed.

The checks having been removed from the compartments of the machine, it is ready to handle the next batch of deposits. In this connection it will be noted that the sorting device has been left in its dotted line position, in which it delivers checks to compartment 0. When the adding machine carriage is shifted to the first column again, contact springs I24 and I25 are closed again, and a circuit is closed for the magnet I05. Upon energizing, the magnet HM releases the shaft H, which starts to rotate and drives shaft 93 as previously described. During the first complete rotation of shaft ll, shaft 93 rotates ninety degrees and rotates the sorting device to its central position, asit is shown in the drawings. This movement of the sorting device does not, however, open the circuit of magnet HM and therefore shaft ll does not become looked upon completing one rotation but continues for a second rotation. The further movement of the sorting device in response to this second rotation shortly opens the circuit of magnet Hi l at contact springs III and H2 and accordingly the magnet is deenergized and shaft Tl becomes locked at the end of the second rotation. Thus the sorting device is properly positioned to deliver checks to compartment A.

Attention may now be directed to Fig. 11, which shows a check-sorting apparatus adapted to bandle five-classifications of checks rather than three.

The complete endorsing and sorting machine corresponds generally to the one described. The base portion of the machine is made somewhat higher, however, to accommodate two sorting devices SDI and SD! in superimposed relation, as shown in the drawings. These sorting devices are supported on trunnions and are similar to the sorting device SD of the machine already described.

The selecting mechanism is also the same as the selecting mechanism SM and includes a shaft 11, a locking disk and a release magnet I64, which are the same as the correspondingly numbered parts of the selecting mechanism SM. There is also a friction drive mechanism (not 7 gear 96' also correspond to the like numbered parts of the selecting mechanism SM, but the gear ratio is one to five instead of one to four.

The gear wheel 96' is mounted on a shaft 200, which also carries the cams 20I and 202, the commutator 203 and five slip rings 204. The cams 20! and 202 control the sorting devices SDI and SDZ, respectively, through the medium of actuating rods 205 and 201. These rods are lon gitudinally slidable in guides 209 and 2| 0, and their ends are maintained in engagement with the peripheries of their respective cams by springs 206 and 208. Although not shown, it will be understood that the five 'slip rings are wired to the five segments, respectively, of the commutator 203.

The adding machine is arranged for the entry of checks in five columns and has a set of contact springs associated with each column. When the carriage of the adding machine is shifted to the first column, the first set of contact springs is actuated; that is, contact spring 2I2 is disengaged from contact spring 2H and is brought into engagement with contact spring H3. The other sets of contact springs are similarly actuated in the different positions of thecarriage to which they correspond.

The sets of contacts on the adding machine are numbered from 1 to 5 in accordance with the columns to which they correspond and for convenience in following the operation the same numbering is employed at other points in the drawings.

Current for energizing the magnet I24 is supplied from the secondary winding of the transformer I5 3, which is the same as transformer SM previously referred to.

The functions of the clearing clerk are the same as before, except for the somewhat different classification of the checks, and accordingly the description can be confined to the control and operation. of the sorting apparatus.

When the carriage of the adding machine is shifted to the first column, the first set of contact springs is actuated, contact spring 2I2 being moved out of engagement with contact spring 2 I I and into engagement with contact spring 2 I3, and a circuit is completed for magnet I04 which can be traced from terminal H5 by way of conductor 2 39, contact springs M3 and M2, contact springs 22? and 220, brush 244,the fourth slip ring, the fourth segment of commutator 203, brush 2%, conductor 24?, and winding of magnet Hi4 to terminal Il i'. Magnet i 1 energizes over the above circuit and releases shaft ll, which starts to rotate, driving shaft 290 by means of pinion Bi and gear 95'. The direction of rotation is as indicated by the arrows.

One complete rotation of shaft Tl causes shaft 200 to rotate seventy-two degrees, which brings the fifth sections of the cams 20! and 262 into engagement with the actuating bars 205 and 203. Section 5 of cam 25 is the same as section 4, and accordingly the bar 205 is not disturbed. Section 5 of cam 202 is a raised section, and moves the actuating bar 201 to the .-.eft, which rotates the sorting device SD22 into the proper position to deliver checks to compartment 5. This operation is noted in passing, but the position assumed by the sorting device SD2 is only momentarily maintained.

When the fourth commutator segment leaves the brush 246, the initial circuit of magnet I04 is broken but the rotation of the parts continues, for shaft 1'! cannot become locked except upon the completion of a rotation, and the locking points correspond to the approximate centers of the commutator segments. When the fifth commutator segment engages brush 2%, a new circuit is completed for magnet ted, extending from terminal I75 by way of conductor 240, contact springs 2I3 and 2E2, contact springs 22d and 223, brush 245, the fifth slip ring, fifth segment of commutator 203, brush 2G5, conductor 25?, and winding of magnet Hid to terminal I14. Magnet I04 is energized over the above circuit, and hence when shaft 5? completes its first rotation it does not become locked but continues on a. second rotation, which insures another seventy-two degree rotation of shaft 200.

The circuit of magnet Hid is broken again when the fifth segment of commutator 20d leaves the brush 246. The fifth segment is followed by the first segment, but when the first segment of the commutator comes under the brush 2% the circuit of magnet IN is not again closed, for

r the connection to the first segment (through the first slip ring and brush 2 3!) is open at contact spring 2 at the adding machine. Magnet E94 accordingly remains deenergized and shaft ll becomes locked upon completing its second rotation.

As a result of the foregoing, the shaft 200 has been rotated for an angular distance of twice seventy-two degrees, or one hundred forty-four degrees in all, which is sufiicient to bring the centers of the first sections of cams Ziii and 202 into engagement with the actuating rods 205 and 201, respectively. Actuating rod 2d! restores to the position in which it is shown as soon as the fifth section of cam 202 leaves the rod, for the first section which follows is the same as the fourth section. Actuating rod 25 moves to the right as soon as it is engaged by the first section of cam 20I, for this section is depressed or cut away, as shown. The movement of the rod 205 to the right, which takes place due to spring 206 and the described cam configuration,

rotates the sorting device SDI into the proper position to deliver checks to the first compart-' ment.

The operation at this point is the same as previously described. When the clerk feeds the checks into the endorsing and sorting machine, they are endorsed in the usual manner and pass one at a time down the chute 48. Upon leaving thechute each check impinges on the sorting device SDI and is diverted to the left and rotation and advances shaft 209 for an angular Magnet I04 distance of seventy-two degrees. is deenergized as soon as the first segment of commutator 203 leaves the brush 24B anddoes not energize when the second segment comes under.

the brush, for the connection to the second segment is open. at contact spring 2M. The shaft 15 F1 accordingly becomes looked after completing one rotation. I

The second sections of the cams 2M and 282 are now in engagement with the actuating rods 205 and fill, respectively. The position of rod 287 is not altered, but rod 265 is moved to the left, for the second section of cam Zill is a raised section. The sorting device SDl is therefore rotated to the proper position to deliver checks to the second compartment.

When the carriage of the adding machine is shifted to the third column, the second set of contact springs is restored to normal and the third set of contact springs is actuated. Another circuit for magnet Hi l is thereby closed, traceable from terminal H5 by way of conductor 240, contact springs 2H! and 2l8, contact springs H5 and 2M, brush 2&2, second slip ring, second segment of commutator 2&3, brush 246, conductor 2 1i, and winding of magnet IM to terminal H4. Magnet EM accordingly energizes and releases the shaft 1"! which makes another rotation and rotates shaft 2% another seventy-two degrees. This brings the third segment of the commutator 283 under the brush 246, and since the conmention to this segment is open at contact spring 2E7 the magnet W4 is deenergized and the shaft 71' becomes looked upon completing its rotation.

The third sections of cams 2M and 2% are now in engagement with the actuating rods 2% and 297, respectively. The third section of cam EDI is the same as the fourth section and the actuating rod 2555 therefore assumes the position in which it is shown, which brings the sorting device SD! to its central position. The third section of cam 282 is a depressed section, which permits the actuating rod Zfllto move to the right, rotating the sorting device SD2 into the proper position to deliver checks to the third compartment.

The foregoing will be clear from the drawings, from which it will be apparent that a check leaving the chute 58 will pass into and through the centrally disposed sorting device SDI and will then impinge upon the sorting device SDZ (now rotated in a clockwise direction), which will divert the check to the left and deposit it in the third compartment.

It is thought that the circuit operations which take place in response to the shifting of the adding machine carriage to the fourth and fifth columns will be readily understood from the foregoing explanation. When the carriage is shifted to the fourth column, the shaft 230 rotates until the fourth commutator segment becomes associated with the brush 2%, as shown in the drawings. In this position of the shaft the cams 2ill and 202 so control the actuating rods that both the sorting devices SD! and SD2 are in the central position. Checks coming down the chute 4%) will therefore be deposited in the fourth compartment. When the carriage is shifted to the fifth column, the shaft 280 is automatically rotated until the fifth commutator segment is centered under brush 256. In this position of the shaft, cam Elli leaves the sorting device SDI in central position, but cam 292 rotates the sorting device SD2 in a counter-clockwise direction, bringing it into the proper position to deliver checks to the fifth compartment.

1 Itwill be clear that the capacity of the sorting apparatus may be further expanded, following the sam principle as illustrated in Fig. 11.

In the particular system described in the foregoing, a duplex adding, subtracting and listing machine is used, but in some cases a modified 1 system using a non-listing duplex calculating machine may be adopted. When a non-:listing machine is used, the sets of contacts such as i24i25, Fig. 10, or 2! l2l2--2l3, Fig. 11, may be mounted under the shelf l2 of the endorsing and sorting machine and are manually controiled by means of keys or push buttons.

While the invention is designed particularly for sorting checks in a bank, it is possible that certain features may have utility in other situations. I We do not, therefore, wish to be limited to theprecise forms of the invention illustrated and described herein, but desire to include and have protected by Letters Patent all modifications and applications of the invention which come Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. In combination, a plurality of contact sets, a shaft having a plurality of angular positions corresponding to said contact sets, respectively, means responsive to the actuation of any contact set for rotating aid shaft to the coresponding position, a sorting device having a plurality of selective positions corresponding to the positions of said shaft, respectively, and means including a cam on said shaft responsive to movement of the shaft to any position for moving the sorting device to the corresponding selective position.

2. In combination, a shaft, means for applying, a continuous rctative torque to said shaft, means for locking said shaft against rotation, a magnet for unlocking said shaft, a second shaft geared to said first shaft and having a plurality of equally spaced angular positions corresponding to successive rotations of said first shaft, a plurality of contact sets corresponding to said positions, respectively, and circuit means for energizing said magnet whenever a contact set is actuated which does not correspond to the instant position of said second shaft.

3. In combination, a sorting device supported.

on pivots and having a plurality of selective positions, two sets of contact springs actuated in two different positions of aid sorting device, respectively, a plurality of sets of control contacts corresponding, respectively, to the selective positions of said sorting device, means including a magnet for moving said sorting device to any position responsive to the actuation of the corresponding.

control contact, and circuits for said magnet controlled jointly by said sets of contact springs and by said control contacts.

l. In a check-handling system which includes a multiple column tahulating machine having a shiftable carriage, a plurality of compartments for receiving tabulated checks, check-sorting apparatus, means for feeding said tabulated checlts through said apparatus to compartments, and means automatically actuated by said carriage in accordance with the position thereof for deter mining the compartment to which the checks are delivered by said apparatus.

5. In a check-handling system, the combination, with a multiple column tabulating' machine having a carriage shiftable to different positions, of a plurality of check-receivin compartments corresponding to said positions, respectively, check-sorting apparatus adapted to deliver checks to any of said compartments, switches actuated by said carriage in its difierent positions, respectively, and means including said switches for controlling saidapparatus to cause the same to always deliver checks to the particular compartment which corresponds to the instant position of said carriage.

6. In a check handling system, a multiple column tabulating machine having column selecting means, a plurality of compartments for receiving tabulated checks, check-sorting apparatus, means for feeding said tabulated checks through said apparatus to said compartments, and means actuated automatically by said column selecting means for determining the compartment to which the checks are delivered by said apparatus in accordance with the selected column in which the checks are tabulated.

7. A check endorsing and sorting machine, including in combination, means for endorsing checks, a plurality of compartments for receiving endorsed checks, check-sorting apparatus, means for feeding endorsed checks from said endorsing means through said apparatus to said compartments, check registers coresponding to said compartments, selector means responsive to said sorting apparatus for selectively conditioning said registers for operation on feeding of an endorsed check through said apparatus to a corresponding compartment, and means responsive to said check endorsing means for operating the register conditioned for operation by said selector means.

8. In a check-handling system of the class described havlng a plurality of check-receiving compartments arranged side by side in a generally horizontal plane and a sorting mechanism arranged thereabove and including a downwardly directed fixed chute into which checks are delivered for sorting, the improvement which consists in the provision of a tubular member arranged between the lower end of said chute and said compartments and adapted to receive checks from said chute, means for pivotally mounting said tubular member, means for selectively rotating said tubular member to guide checks descending therefrom selectively into any one of said compartments, a plurality of counters, circuit means including contacts for operating said counters, and means actuated by said tubular member for actuating said contact means.

MARTIN L. NELSON.

ALFRED M. ROBERTS. 

